Should I Study a Foreign Language at School? Oui, Sì & Ja!

Languages at school are often detested or ignored, and written off as unimportant. But… why?

French, Japanese, Chinese, Italian and German are all commonly taught at schools across Australia. Maybe you personally study some of these! If so, you would know the joy of learning foreign languages, and the sense of accomplishment you feel when you can successfully translate something, not to mention the boost in self confidence that comes with it.

Foreign languages can enhance your life in ways you might not have known. Sure, learning another language can be difficult, but the hard work you put in and the corresponding success you achieve from it is well worth the stress.

Studying languages can boost your confidence in your speaking skills and improve your ability to communicate. By studying another language, you also gain a deeper understanding of English, which is essential for your future.

Also, it gives you some fun facts. Have you ever wondered what the difference between ‘fiancé’ and ‘fiancée’ is? Well, ‘fiancé’ is for men and 'fiancée' is for women. Told you: Fun! This is because the words originate from the French language, which has gendered language for feminine and masculine. Even the reason we pronounce 'é' as an 'a' comes from the French. See? You've already learned something new!

Being bilingual is also an attractive trait to have written on your resumé. (There’s that 'é' again.) If you are planning on going into government, business, medicine, law, technology, military, industry or marketing, you should consider learning a second language. A foreign language gives you an advantage over everyone else and increases your chances of getting your dream job, potentially overseas.

Do you plan to travel to another country that speaks a foreign language? If the answer is ‘yes’, then you would want to enjoy yourself to the fullest, right? You’d want to meet new people and experience the culture in its entirety. This can be accomplished by even a basic understanding of their language. If you just knew English, you would only be skimming the surface of the wonderful depths of culture that country holds.

As daunting as it may seem to study a foreign language, there are many opportunities that await you. Although, that's only true if you are brave enough to open and go through the door.

Congratulations to Rachel for winning this week's writing challenge. Rachel wins a $50 Westfield gift card for her submission. For your chance to win, check out our latest writing challenges in our Comps section. Also, be sure to follow this guide on how to win the writing challenge!

Photo: NBC